Vehicle wash equipment

Abstract

A "roll over" type vehicle wash apparatus includes a frame which is movable on a track and which is driven between a front end and a rear end of the track. The apparatus includes a pair of front arms and a pair of rear arms which are pivotally connected to the frame. Side wrap brushes are rotatably connected to each of the front and rear arms and are rotated about vertical axes. Positioned proximate the rear end of the track are arm deflectors which cause the rear arms to be driven inward toward one another as the frame approaches the rear end. This prevents the rear arms of the apparatus from being accidentally driven through doors at the ends of the bay area in the event of a failure of the actuators of the rear arms.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A roll-over type vehicle wash apparatus comprising: track means having a front end and a rear end;   frame means movable on the track means between the front end and the rear end;   first and second front arm means pivotally connected to opposite sides of the frame means;   first and second front side wrap brush means rotatably connected proximate free ends of the first and second front arm means, respectively;   first and second rear arm means pivotally connected to opposite sides of the frame means;   first and second rear side wrap brush means rotatably connected proximate free ends of the first and second rear arm means, to rotate about first and second vertical pivot axes, respectively;   front actuator means connected between the frame means and the first and second front arm means for controlling the position of the front arm means to move the first and second front side wrap brush means into engagement with the vehicle; and   rear actuator means connected between the frame means and the first and second rear arm means for controlling the position of the rear arm means to move the first and second rear side wrap brush means into engagement with the vehicle;   means positioned proximate the rear end for engaging the first and second rear arm means and driving the free ends of the first and second rear arm means inward toward one another as the frame means approaches the rear end if the rear actuator means has not moved the first and second rear arm means inward toward one another.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means positioned proximate the rear end comprise first and second upstanding members for engaging the first and second rear arm means, respectively. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the track means comprises first and second substantially parallel rails on which the frame means is movable, and wherein the first and second upstanding members are fixedly positioned proximate the rear ends of the first and second rails, respectively. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first and second rear arms each comprise an upper arm means member and a lower arm member. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the first and second upstanding members engage the lower arm members of the first and second rear arm means, respectively, as the frame means approaches the rear end of the first and second rails. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the means positioned proximate the rear end further comprise first and second deflector means for engaging the lower members of the first and second rear arm means and guiding the lower members into contact with the first and second upstanding members, respectively, as the frame means approaches the rear end of the first and second rails. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first and second deflector means are connected to and project from the first and second upstanding members, respectively. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: rear stop means positioned proximate the rear end of the track means for engaging and stopping the frame means at the rear end.   
     
     
       9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the means positioned proximate the rear end for engaging the first and second rear arm means is positioned proximate the rear stop means. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising: front stop means positioned proximate the front end of the track means for engaging and stopping the frame means at the front end.   
     
     
       11. A roll-over vehicle wash apparatus comprising: first and second substantially parallel horizontal rails defining a track having a first end and a second end;   frame means movable on the track between the first end and the second end;   first and second arms pivotally connected to opposite sides of the frame means to pivot about first and second generally vertical arm axes, respectively;   first and second brushes rotatably connected proximate free ends of the first and second arm means to rotate about first and second generally vertical brush axes, respectively;   actuator means connected to the frame means and the first and second arms for controlling the position of the first and second arms; and   first and second upstanding members positioned proximate the first end of the first and second rails, respectively, for engaging the first and second arms to drive the arms so that the free ends of the first and second arms move inward toward one another as the frame means approaches the first end if the actuator means has failed to move the free ends of the arm means inward toward one another.   
     
     
       12. The apparatus of claim 11 and further comprising: stop means positioned proximate the front end for engaging and stopping the frame means at the first end.   
     
     
       13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the first and second arms each comprise an upper arm member and a lower arm member. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first and second upstanding members engage the lower arm members of the first and second arms, respectively, as the frame means approaches the first end. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the means positioned proximate the first end further comprise first and second deflector means for engaging the lower members of the first and second arms and guiding the lower members into contact with the first and second upstanding members, respectively, as the frame means approaches the first end. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first and second deflector means are connected to and project from the first and second upstanding members, respectively.